Wayne State University Athletics

Women's Basketball 1/26/2021 8:23:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Basketball Travels To Ashland For Tuesday Contest

DETROIT -- Wayne State will conclude its second tough stretch of the young season playing its third game in five days Tuesday afternoon at Ashland. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. in Ohio. The Warriors began the year playing four times in six days and compiled a 3-1 mark in that stretch.

THE SERIES
Wayne State trails 15-42 in the all-time series versus Ashland. The Eagles have won the last 11 meetings overall and the last seven contests in Ashland since an 87-78 Warrior victory on December 18, 2013.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Ashland began the year with a home sweep of Ferris State (79-55 and 60-45) before falling twice at Grand Valley State (73-68 and 70-67) on January 16-17. The Eagles split at home this past weekend against Saginaw Valley State rebounding to win on Saturday (80-64) after falling on Friday (73-70). AU has lost three regular-season games for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.

Annie Roshak scored 58 points in the two games at GVSU to earn GLIAC South Division Player of the Week recognition and is averaging 24.0 points per game. Karlee Pireu (19.7 PPG) and Hallie Heidemann (11.3 PPG) also average in double figures. Pireau leads the Eagles in rebounding (9.3 RPG), while Heidemann has a team-high total of 19 assists.

Head coach Kari Pickens, a former All-American for AU, has compiled a 63-6 record in her third season leading the Eagles.

NORTHWOOD SERIES RECAP
Wayne State split its home series with Northwood winning 77-69 on Friday, before falling 78-63 on Saturday.

In the series opener, the Warriors rallied from a 41-24 halftime deficit for the victory. WSU scored 29 points in the third quarter after being limited to 24 points in the first half. Wayne State shot nearly 50 percent in the second half (18-of-37), while the defense held Northwood to 11-of-34 after intermission.

Grace George led WSU with a game-high and a career-best 30 points, along with a game-high 12 rebounds. Kate Sherwood contributed a career-best 16 points, while Tori Perez helped with 10 points. Alexis Miller dished out a team-high five assists.

The Warriors led 17-9 in the opening stanza on Saturday, before the Timberwolves rallied to take a 45-43 lead at halftime. NU continued to surge outscoring Wayne State 21-12 in the third quarter and 12-9 in the final period.

George led with a game-high 22 points, and five rebounds. Sherwood cipped in with 13 points and Sam Cherney added 10 points and seven rebounds. Perez had a game-best eight rebounds.

ACCOLADES
Junior forward Grace George was named to the All-GLIAC South Division Preseason Team and was selected GLIAC South Division Player of the Week yesterday. George averaged 26.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per contest as WSU split its home series vs. Northwood. In Friday's victory, George had game-high totals of 30 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. She scored a game-best 22 points in Saturday's setback, along with tying for team-high honors with three assists. For the weekend, she shot 53 percent (19-of-36) from the floor, including 56 percent from three-point range (5-of-9). George was also 9-of-12 (75 percent) from the charity stripe, while contributing three assists and three blocks.

TABBED FOR FOURTH
Wayne State was voted fourth in the GLIAC South Division Preseason Coaches Poll. Ashland was selected first in the South Division with 11 first-place votes and 61 points. Grand Valley State earned the other first-place vote and 43 points. Saginaw Valley State (39 points) and Wayne State (28 points) were ahead of Northwood (27 points) and Davenport (18 points).

WARRIOR COACHES
Assistant coach Karen Lafata, who holds three degrees from Wayne State, has been with head coach Carrie Lohr for all nine-plus seasons. Graduate assistant Christina Green joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2019. Green played basketball for the Warriors between 2013 and 2017 scoring in double figures 19 times.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Sam Cherney: F; 6' 3"; Junior

#32 Grace George: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#10 Alexis Miller: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#44 Tori Perez: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#21 Kate Sherwood: G; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#13 Sam Cherney
: 6' 3"; Junior
: F

#32 Grace George
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#10 Alexis Miller
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#44 Tori Perez
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#21 Kate Sherwood
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G